Hartpury University’s netball team have won the EY Western Conference Cup final, beating Exeter 50-36. It was the first time the university team have made this final, and the players took full advantage of their opportunity. The result rounds off a month of sensational performances by Hartpury’s Netball Academy.
The Genge family are no stranger to sporting pressure on the big stage. Jasmine Genge, sister to international rugby player and Hartpury alum Ellis Genge, was named player of the match after a particularly cool-headed performance.
It was an especially fitting finale for Emily Lacy (vice-captain), Sophie Margetts and Thalia Letori (captain), who played their last game in the red and black after five years progressing through the college and university netball programmes.
Georgia Smith, who is currently studying a Level 3 Extended Diploma Sport and Exercise Science will now follow in their footsteps progressing onto the BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Nutrition degree in the autumn.
Victoria Procter, Effie Robinson, Rhian Dawes, and Millie Lealan were also on the cup-winning side alongside equine student Maria Donovan who is studying the FdSc Equine Performance degree.
Hartpury’s Junior 1st team also enjoyed success in the quarter-final of the AoC National Cup beating Barking Abbey School 55-42. They have finished the season winning the Premier League South West and will head to the Premier League National play offs on Wednesday 30th March in Walsall where they will play the semi final v Northern Premier league winners, Queen Ethelburgas before hopefully, competing in the final later in the day.
Holly Duerden, Hartpury Netball Academy Manager, said: “I’m so very proud of our university team who’ve written themselves into the Hartpury history books with this historic win.
“Our representation on the England Netball Pathway and our performances in games like these proves that our athlete-centred programme is working and we’re passionate about helping student-athletes pursue their sport while studying for an academic qualification.
“I’d like to pay tribute to Emily (Lacy), Sophie (Margetts) and Thalia who’ve played their final match for Hartpury after five fantastic years making hugely valuable contributions to our netball programme. They can be proud that they’ve played an active role in shaping the netball programme we see at Hartpury today. We wish them all the best for the future.”
Students wishing to join the Hartpury Netball Academy (or any of the 10 competitive Sports Academies) whilst studying for a high-quality college or university-level qualification, will benefit from world-class training facilities. These include biomechanics and human performance laboratories; home to an anti-gravity treadmill, altitude chamber and high-speed cameras to track body movement, a new sports hall and sport performance gym, alongside coaching, physiotherapy, and strength and conditioning support.
Learn more about Hartpury College sports diplomas and Hartpury University sports degrees.
